NEWS

By Alexander Tawiah and Richard Thomas · Aug. 9, 2024

Bobcat Promotions recently completed a video that shares the story of Ozona Bank. With banks in San Marcos, Wimberley, San Antonio and Ozona, Texas, Ozona shares the trusted bank’s experience through the owner experiences of Garcia’s Restaurant and Corridor Landscaping, two San Marcos business owners who credited the bank for their success. The San Marcos businesses, like most businesses, start with modest beginnings, which blossom over the years, fueled by bank financing.

The video work will be shared on various Ozona platforms. Daina Slover, vice president of marketing for the bank in San Marcos, said the bank was very happy with the two-minute finished product. “We have been thinking of ways to support and partner with Texas State University, in our own back yard,” she added. “Working with the graduate students was a pleasant experience. I think we each learned from each other. We would definitely use Bobcat Productions again, if the need arises.”

Alexander Tawiah and Richard Thomas, SJMC graduate students at Texas State, were the account executives on the project. Tawiah, the videographer on the project, combined shots of San Marcos, voiceovers of bank officials and clients Johnny and Saleena Ybarra of Garcia’s Restaurant and Josh Paselk of Corridor Landscaping, to share how the bank made a difference in their growth.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sURUB9_DFsU&t=10s

“There’s no one better than satisfied customers to serve as ambassadors for a client,” Tawiah said. “It was a great experience for Richard and me and we are pleased to deliver a professional product that will boost the brand for the bank as San Marcos continues to grow. Particularly fun was coming up with dramatic, picturesque B-roll shots utilizing a drone.”

Thomas added that the finished product already has created new clients for Bobcat Promotions. “Nothing speaks to out capabilities as a media strategies firm than our own work, he said. “It sells itself.”

By Katherine Andrews · July 13, 2024

Crisis communication refers to strategies and systems implemented by an organization in anticipation of a crisis. Unexpected events have a way of threatening one’s reputation. Such work requires great planning. In the fast and hyperconnected world of social media, organizations of all types face a plethora of crises, ranging from product recalls to leaderships misconduct. The criticism that Texas State recently received following River Fest shows the importance of always having a crisis communication plan ready.

Texas State’s beloved River Fest returned from an eight-year hiatus on April 11. The free festival open to all Texas State students featured a variety of food and retail stalls as well as a lineup of musical artists headlined by the rapper Tyga. The event initially ran smoothly. At 7 p.m., however, Sewell Park reached its maximum occupancy of 5,000 people, and the festival’s gates were unexpectedly closed.

In the ensuing confusion, The University Star, Texas State’s student-run newspaper, reported that students knocked over gates three separate times to force their way into the event. Texas State Fire Marshall James Fyre witnessed three festival goers being transported away from the scene by EMS. Singer Connor Redden reported that his band Flight by Nothing had to pause their set multiple times because of audience members requiring medical attention.

As the accounts from River Fest demonstrate, even events planned by the biggest and best funded organizations can go wrong in an instant. If Texas State University, the University Police Department and the student organization Students Association for Campus Activities (SACA) had anticipated such crisis situations for River Fest, they would have been better prepared to communicate effectively to resolve these problems. Crowds would have been better controlled and injuries and chaos could have been avoided.

Crisis communication’s primary function is to create safety and protect an organization’s reputation. In the business world, reputation is directly linked to profit, and businesses whose public images suffer can face financial ruin. Even nonprofit organizations need to maintain a positive image to generate sufficient revenue to cover costs and continue operating.

One of the best ways an organization can protect its reputation is by creating contingency plans for all major initiatives or events. Thorough planning before an event takes place allows an organization to take preventative measures to reduce the likelihood of a crisis and to determine the best response if one does occur.

Additionally, crisis communication is important for maintaining an organization’s internal relationships. Employees are an organization’s first line of defense in a crisis. If employees are misled about the situation or excluded from strategic decisions, the organization significantly decreases its chances of recovering from the crisis. Because shareholders represent a significant source of funding, it is also imperative that the organization clearly communicates both the problem and its planned solution to shareholders to prevent panic and a significant decline in the organization’s financial value.

Although crisis communication is geared toward the interests of companies and organizations, it benefits individuals too. When done well, crisis communication gives people the information necessary to make the best choices for themselves. If Texas State University and the University Police Department and SACA had executed crisis communication during River Fest, students would have been empowered to lessen the night’s injuries and chaos. Instead, students were left crowded and confused in the dark

Katherine Andrews, a member of Bobcat Promotions, is a senior mass communications major from Austin. She also works with Moon Street Media.

By Madison Green · April 16, 2024

Although graduating with an undergraduate degree is a big step in a person’s life, students often need more applied experience or some extra “pizzazz” to truly make them stand-out candidates. Many students overlook the importance of getting their name out to industry professionals.

One of the main ways to do this is through networking. This can be face-to face through agency tours, company happy hours, or Handshake. Networking provides a great way for students to get connected to professionals quickly and easily, while showing these staff members that you are interested in learning about their roles. In person meetings, such as agency tours and happy hours, are often publicized by collegiate chapters of professional organizations like the American Advertising Federation.

Another effective networking hack is through online platforms like LinkedIn. Although it might seem scary at first, students are able to match with professionals and request informational interviews about how professionals gained their experience. This is what LinkedIn was made for, so even if it seems daunting, a student could be one connection away from an opportunity that might change their life.

Internships are also wonderful ways students can get their name into more professional settings. These long-term opportunities allow students to gain insight into not only what it is like to actually work in an agency but also to make connections with bosses and co-workers. Internships can often be found through online job sites; however, a great resource that all students have are their professors. These professors worked in the industry and often have connections, so they can help students with their search.

If a student is able to form a good rapport with their boss and/or coworkers, the student will be able to use them as references later. Along with this, having a certain company name, like GSD&M or RPA on a resume can open many doors.

Lastly, one of the many ways that students can get their names out into the professional world is by joining mentorship programs. Mentorship programs are often offered through professional organizations, such as Ad 2 Austin, an affiliate of the American Advertising Federation.

According to the Ad 2 Austin website, the mentee is expected “to form relationships and connect with industry professionals in the Austin area while becoming a part of the advertising community.”

Overall, students need to recognize that connections in the strategic communications industry are important – perhaps even more important than in other industries. An undergraduate degree might be necessary; however, it is expected of up-and-coming professionals to already have one. The degree is not the be-all-end-all, but rather how you use the degree to form connections is what really counts.

By Saliyah M. Parker · Nov. 13, 2023

Bobcat Promotions members recently participated in the first of four scheduled Bobcat Days, a program that was a huge success.

Madison Walker, Megan Kim and Maddy Ramon, leaders in the student-run media strategies firm, participated in the academic fair to share knowledge about the School of Journalism and Mass Communication (SJMC) and the overall Texas State experience with prospective Bobcats and their families.

Walker, an advertising senior and executive director for Bobcat Promotions recalled her personal experiences at Texas State and shared how her experience here has prepared for her future.

“I got to tell them about the classes that I took, the professors that I love, and all the student organization experience I’ve gotten that’s helped me in my pursuit of internships and graduation,” Walker said.

Kim, a public relations junior and director of internal communications for Bobcat Promotions, said more than 300 people were excited to be a part of Bobcat Days.

“I think it was able to give them a lot of clarity on what kind of programs we offer and the kind of opportunities Texas State could have for them,” Kim said.

Ramon, a public relations sophomore and deputy director of web design for Bobcat Promotions, echoed Kim’s sentiments and was able to connect with potential students visiting Texas State for the first time. She shared her memory of attending Bobcat Days as a graduating high school senior and also shared a bit of her experience with changing majors in response to questions from attendees.

“I was able to share my experience . . . and talk about how I was a mass communications major first, then I switched to public relations,” Ramon said. “I talked about how they’re both in the school (SJMC) and how it was an easy switch because we all start with the same general classes.”

Ramon was able to give both potential students and their families a sense of ease knowing that they would be able to explore Texas State and find the right choice of major.

Walker, Kim, and Ramon agree that Bobcat Days is an excellent way to get a feel for Texas State by conversing with current students and hearing about their experiences.

“I did not tour any of the colleges or universities that I have attended before and I can tell you that getting a feel of the campus and the culture is invaluable,” Walker said. “I feel like Bobcat Days is just a great opportunity to get a feel of what you’re going to experience. I wish I would have done it.”

Ramon added that she highly recommends attending Bobcat Days when considering whether to attend Texas State. “Attending a Bobcat Day really solidified my decision to attend Texas State because I saw all of the programs that there was to offer,” Ramon said.

For more information, please visit

https://www.admissions.txst.edu/visit/events/bobcat-day.html

By Tyler Lees · May 9, 2022

In the ever-changing social media landscape, quality content is everything. However, where and how that content reaches its intended viewer is equally important. Online videos are watched by 78 percent of people every week; 55% every day, according to HighQ. What platforms people use to watch these videos is just as important as watching the video itself, especially in the ever-changing and competitive world of ad revenue. To look at the impact and reach of monetized video content, we look at two big social media giants — YouTube and Facebook.

For the past 20 years, the social media giant owned by Google, used to be the #1 digital home for video, amassing more than 1 billion users and expanding groups of creators with a large following at its peak. The company was on upswing with great pay incentives and collaborative opportunities for its creators. However, this situation changed quickly.

In 2014, Facebook expanded its reach and allowed users to share content like never before. How did they do it? Through video uploading. Users started to upload videos directly to Facebook from your phone, instead of driving users to YouTube to watch their favorite home clips. What followed within Facebooks’ billions of users was Facebook Watch.

Facebook Watch is not a cable replacement service. It does not include live television and is geared toward the ever-growing field of user-generated content. The service includes a mixture of professionally-produced content that Facebook pays to have produced and user-produced content. This strongly resembles YouTube Premium, which includes regular user-produced content and exclusive content. The only difference, however, is that Facebook Watch is free.

Now that you know a bit of the history behind this Facebook and YouTube rivalry, which one produces the better reach for your content? The answer isn’t so black and white. It all depends on your audience. If you are looking for an audience suited for longer videos, you may want to go to or stick with YouTube. Data supports that the average attention span on YouTube is three minutes. If you’re looking to target a specific audience with your video, Facebook gives almost instant access. For global reach, again, YouTube is your winner. For a more interactive environment in terms of shares and comments, choose Facebook.

In the final analysis, users must consider their audience and how best to reach that audience. Both platforms deliver. Of course, if you want it all, tailor the content accordingly and use both.

Tyler Lees is a rising senior public relations senior at Texas State University.

By Hebe Barrientos · April 21, 2022

Adobe’s InDesign and Canva are both amazing graphic design softwares that designers use to create beautiful, modern and professional visual projects. While both offer a great variety of products — posters, books and book covers, magazines, newsletters, menus and more — they also differ in many specific ways.

Adobe’s InDesign is specifically created for experienced graphic designers who are accustomed to sitting in front of a blank canvas organize content in a way that attracts viewers or readers. It is equipped with a toolbox that allows the designer to take a concept from nothing to something visually enticing and readable. It allows creators to design, produce, publish and print their digital media work. Their software is downloaded on a computer, allowing Adobe’s designs to have better and much higher resolution than its competitors.

InDesign is a tad more complicated and challenging to learn to work with. First, users must have an understanding of design rules based on a knowledge of visual communication and aesthetics — with imagery and typography — that involves how best to organize information that will capture and retain the attention of the reader. Technically, InDesign’s toolbox allows users to work from a blank canvas, to create work that’s as endless as one’s imagination.

In order to be able to use their services the InDesign customer has to subscribe to a monthly single plan for $20.99. Alternately, the user may elect subscribing to InDesign’s premium service and obtain their full bundle with Adobe Creative cloud for $52.99 a month.

In comparison, Canva leans toward newcomers of graphic design and a younger audience. Rather than their software being downloaded onto your computer, Canva is edited through the web or through its app. Canva understands that as a new graphic designer, it can be overwhelming to create something from scratch, so Canva has made their program easier to use and learn. The program offers templates that can be fully edited to the designer’s preference for a more personalized work to help facilitate new user experiences. If desired, a user can also start from scratch with just a blank page.

A big plus for Canva is that its basic services are free of charge. Designers need to create an account, the free version provides free fonts, images, templates, symbols and more. To upgrade to their Pro version, the cost is only $12.99, and CanvaPro offers twice the amount of design tools to work with.

However, if you are planning to pursue the professional graphic designer path, you should still go with Adobe InDesign. It is versatile and offers an extremely large font library. It’s an industry tool that will help you stand out in the designing field.

Hebe Barrientos, a public relations senior, served as Executive Director of Bobcat Promotions during the Spring of 2022.

By Lauren Chesser · April 20, 2022

Do you ever find yourself mindlessly browsing through TikTok for hours on end when you know you should be doing something productive with your time?

Well, you aren’t the only one. Tiktok has taken social media to a whole new level with its endless stream of content and a lot of people are finding it hard to stay off the app. This TikTok addiction can be harmful to your productivity and become a crutch for dealing with things in your own life. So how do you stop the addiction from becoming a problem?

TikTok doesn’t have to consume your life, leaving you wondering what else you could be doing with your time.

What makes TikTok so addicting in the first place? After the app was launched in late 2016, it became the fastest-growing social media app in the world with more active users than Twitter and Snapchat.

As soon as you visit the platform, you are bombarded with 15-second videos created primarily by young users. The platform content is immediately stimulating. But what constitutes an addiction? Well according to the article, “How TikTok Is Addictive” the inability to stop using, adverse health impacts, compulsive behavior, and usage to cope with external issues are all common indications of addiction.

TikTok as a platform satisfies some of the criteria for addiction. The brief, often fun videos supply us with essential information that elicits a dopamine reaction. This process is reinforced on a regular basis by providing us with more correctly recommended videos.

This leads to compulsively scrolling through the app which, in turn, creates an algorithm that is specific to your interest and inhibits a user’s productivity. The endless stream of content can become a coping mechanism and an easy distraction from dealing with things in your own life.

Not unlike other forms of addiction, the TikTok addiction may be difficult to overcome, but there are some basic steps you can take that will save you a lot of time on the app, time that you can use to be productive on your own.

The first and most important tip is to limit the amount of time you spend on social media a day. In your iPhone settings, there is a feature under “screen time” where you can set a limit on how long you can be on certain social media apps (Avison and Mercado, 2022). Make sure to turn this feature on so you know when you’ve reached your limit for the day.

After speaking with my roommate, Sloan Payton, a recovering, self-proclaimed TikTok addict, she told me that this feature is what helped her stay off the app. “It was hard at first, but it really helped me keep track of my time on social media and hold myself accountable,” she said.

The next thing you should do is turn off all notifications for the app. Social media alerts serve as a continual reminder that something else, probably more important, is going on in the online world, and you may feel as if you’re missing out. When you stop allowing notifications to disrupt your typical routine, you may find it easier to focus on your daily tasks and not become sidetracked as readily.

The last thing you should try is to find a new hobby outside of TikTok. This new hobby could be reading, cooking, or even knitting as long as it allows you to spend time productively offline and get your mind off of TikTok.

Although it can be easy to get sucked into the TikTok addiction that has taken the world by storm, there are actions you can take to prevent yourself from the unhealthy habit. Taking the time to simply turn off notifications or set limits on your screen time can vastly improve your productivity while decreasing your reliance on the app.

What makes TikTok so addictive is the never-ending stream of content that is catered to your interests, but by finding alternatives such as a hobby or managing your screen time you can kick this addiction to the curb.

Sources:

“How TikTok Is Addictive.” Medium, DataSeries, 13 Sept. 2020,

https://medium.com/dataseries/how-tiktok-is-addictive-1e53dec10867

Avison, Phoebe, and Mia Mercado. “7 Easy Ways to Detach Yourself from Social Media.”

Bustle, Bustle, 7 Jan. 2022,

https://www.bustle.com/life/144893-7-ways-to-stop-your-social-media-addiction

Lauren Chesser, a senior advertising major, was deputy executive director of Bobcat Promotions during the spring of 2022.

By Olivia Weber · July 13, 2019

In the last decade, social media has become integrated in people’s everyday lives, perhaps too integrated. In 2018, adults spent an average of 136 minutes on social media every day, according to Statista. Millennials spend much more time communicating through various social platforms.

Whether it used for frivolous chatter, entertainment or news consumption, social media is growing and evolving. Such platforms as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn have allowed businesses to reach a broader and more diverse group of people. All of these users are consumers. They look for places to spend money, so any seller of goods and services who want to reach a vast marketplace find it essential to be in the media game.

Research shows that 91 percent of United States businesses use some social media platform for marketing purposes. Although social media was originally intended for building communities, mostly for entertainment and fun, many businesses have realized the influence and benefits that come from it.

Social media allows instant feedback and reaction, which can help business owners gauge how they should operate. Before social media, people lacked instant, interactive and anywhere access with a customer or prospect. Now they have the power to reach thousands within seconds with just the tap of their fingers. Within a decade, social media has taken over and has expanded its original intention. For some businesses, transactions can take place online even when retailers have closed for the day.

While social media may seem like a nuisance to manage, it definitely has its benefits, especially if the person managing the platform keeps the content interesting and engaging. Business owners who don’t think social media is useful or they haven’t yet appreciated its value should consider the following:

Customer Loyalty

There’s no doubt that social media can help get the word out. Businesses can build connections with their customers and provide immediate, personal feedback, which is a good way to build customer loyalty. In turn, customer loyalty boosts company reputation.

It is Popular

Social media is everywhere. It is hard to enter a room or a restaurant and not see someone using some sort of social media platform. People are consumed by their phones — it can be a bad thing, too — but they’re even more consumed by the apps that are on the smartphone. A total of 69 percent of U.S. adults have at least one social media site; 88 percent of American 18-to-29-year-olds use social media.

It is Affordable

Social media is cost effective. Marketing costs can definitely add up and not every company has the privilege or funds to make elaborate campaigns. Social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram are great ways to spread the word and create an image for your company.

Brand Building

One of the best things about social media is that brands can be created instantly. Social media platforms provide a visual and voice to companies. There is also more flexibility in how a company wants to be perceived. Social media is a great place to experiment and determine what is best for the company. It is the perfect outlet to branch out from the corporate and business side and create a welcoming atmosphere. Advertising can be targeted and is inexpensive.

Interactivity

With social media, business owners usually get instant feedback. And if the response is unhelpful, the customer can weigh in immediately. If they’re unsatisfied, they can quickly search for a better business. Business owners will establish a positive reputation with strong customer service, and that begins with communication. One caveat worth mentioning here is that while social is quick and efficient it should not be a substitute for good old-fashioned person-to-person communication. So, it is important to build a place where respect, care and understanding are emphasized throughout the whole company.

Recommended Links:

https://blog.hootsuite.com/social-media-statistics-for-social-media-managers/#general

By Cheyenne Heaslet · July 30, 2017

Nothing sells the right first impression than a well-planned website. It exudes to clients or random visitors a feeling of professionalism and trustworthiness. It offers insights into a company’s heart and soul. It tells the story of a brand with visuals and words.

But there comes a time when a website redesign or update is useful, if not necessary. While a reorganization of information keeps a site fresh, interesting and easy to navigate, it’s crucial to stay true to the client’s brand.

When redesigning a website, there are many questions to ask themselves, not the least of which is “why?” Dealing with a more fast-paced consumer brand, the “why?” could be something as simple as a need to stay fresh and appear forward thinking.

Fashion retail sites such as Gap.com change their design annually and sometimes even seasonally to follow trends in both aesthetic and function. Think of the difference between a fashion based website in the summer that eventually turns to winter.

The “why?” with these types of brands isn’t always a major overhaul, but the focus is typically to make a new presentation easier for the user to adapt to, while also giving the appearance of a new direction.

Other consumer based websites, such as Zildjian.com, redesign with similar reason, but will also take on a new look with the announcement of a new product or branding such as a new symbol line or technology, much like they did when the L80 was introduced.

While redesigning in other industries, like manufacturing, the “why?” is almost always focusing on the function over appearance.

Jayne Wilks, web designer for pipe manufacturer Cantex Inc., said in an interview that while having a “clean, easy to navigate” page is of paramount importance, the reason for redesigning is typically to employ new features that make their existing page easier to read and navigate.

“Our clients are used to our site […] we’ve kept the layout consistent for a while,” Wilks said.

In industries such as hers, where the business stays specific enough, making the clients feel at ease with their use offers ease to the designer as well. Designers like Wilks generally use time-tested approaches to their interface, and only intervene when another tried and true method presents itself.

Another question for designers that fits into the “why?” is, “for what?” or “for whom?” is the site? Again, Wilks said the intention should be to make the site accessible to your existing user base as well as new visitors.

If the user base is consumer-driven, then designing or redesigning needs to be with the demographic or audience you seek in mind. When rebranding, it’s important to show the direction the product or function is taking the site.

Apple Computers has rebranded itself a few times, and each time their website takes a new turn. Earlier this decade it showcased its line of laptops in a straightforward fashion, with photos of it appearing on a scrolling dock much like the one in the Finder folder. Now, with its phones being its most celebrated product, Apple has shifted to swiping tiles that resemble its iOS interface. This is done to have the product they believe you came to see up front, while also appealing to the consumer’s personal attachment to the device.

Finally, for prospective designers, “how?” is another useful question. Much like building a website for larger industries, there are practices to avoid when designing a site on your own, and mistakes that could wreak havoc while costing you money and/or time.

Lack of foresight for your website could lead to poor organization, confusing navigation, or a number of other blunders that plague inexperienced designers and their potential user base. Fortunately, it’s not impossible to get by on a few Google searches and a subscription based website builder such as Squarespace.

Engineering firm Design Tribe Innovations is a startup that uses Squarespace to cut out expenses that one would incur if you relied on contracting a web designer. Founder David Frank wasn’t experienced in web design before using the builder, but explains that in pursuit of creating a better page what he’s learned has made him more conscious of the decisions he must make.

“I wanted to make something cheap that also had a domain, but I was still afraid of it looking cheap,” Frank said. “[…] I read up on what I should look for, watched some videos on YouTube and had most of the site running within a weekend.”

In 2017, there are websites for just about anything. Staying up to date on a site is important, but it doesn’t have to be costly. Taking time to learn about design can save money and ensure the owner gets exactly what he/she wants out of it.

Eric Koger designed a website for his company, ModCloth, which offers handcrafted clothes to consumers at reasonable prices. He learned html and design through months of research and began to design his website.

“It took a long time to figure out html, which was just half the battle,” Koger said. “It takes a lot of work and willingness to learn, but because of that, I will never have to pay someone when my website needs updating.”

Koger said he feels a sense of freedom knowing he’s self-reliant when it comes what his website looks like and the way it navigates.

“I am in complete control of what customers see and how they interact with my website,” Koger said. “I am able to train employees on how to work little updates within the site, which is much better than having to outsource from other designers.”

Designing, and the eventual redesign of a page is no easy task. After the mission of becoming knowledgeable about who it’s for, and determining why the site is being made, it also takes dedication to learn how to design and when to redesign.

Anyone could have the knowledge and position of Jayne Wilkes or the perseverance of David Frank with practice. Web design has never been as accessible as it is now, and as long as the designer is asking him or herself the right questions, their users will have all of theirs answered as well.

By Amanda Woolery · April 27, 2017

A strong social media presence is an essential tool for communicating with clients and customers. One of the biggest challenges in developing this strategy is choosing which platform is the best fit for your mission. Each site offers unique and distinguishable features and purposes. With social media, the marketplace and a good joke, everything relies on timing.

For the purpose of this post, the focus is going to be on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The most important thing to remember when trying to strategically post to reach your followers is understanding who your audience is. For example, if you know that most of your followers are young professionals, understanding that this audience may not be checking their social media as much throughout the work day will help you choose a time to post where they are more likely active on social media sites. If you have a good idea about who your audience is, you can use this information to try to predict when they are scrolling through their feeds, and therefore; seeing your posts.

For example, a restaurant or food truck is open certain hours, certain days of the week. While they’re open for business continuously, they have a pretty good idea when most people are thinking about eating. Social media can anticipate when to post based on conventional dining hours or craft messaging to encourage people to dine at alternate times with specials. That’s when posting creativity comes into play.

According to Fastcompany, the best time to post on Facebook is sometime during the afternoon (1 to 3 p.m.) Monday through Thursday. The idea behind this time slot is that most people experience an afternoon slump and are looking for a pick-me up, which often results in grabbing the phone and scrolling through Facebook. The worst times to post on Facebook include the weekends, early mornings and late at night.

As far as posting on Twitter, Fastcompany says the best time of day to post is lunchtime when many people are catching up on their Twitter feeds. With that said, this only applies to weekdays. Much like posting to Facebook, most people tend to not check social media as much on the weekends.

The Huffington Post reports the best time to post a picture on Instagram is around 5 p.m., with Wednesday being the best day of the week. The reasoning behind this time is that few people are actually posting at this time, so your post has a higher chance of being seen by your followers. Thus, higher engagement.

Also, while many people begin to pack up and leave work for the day, they may take a minute to sit down and scroll through their Instagram feed before heading for the commute home. A business catering to students might strategically figure other student behavior — study breaks, breaks between classes, before and after sporting events.

The idea behind choosing a good time to post onto social media is that the most people will see (and hopefully engage) with your posts. The more people who see and interact with your posts, the more followers you will eventually gain with these interactions.

While there is no perfect formula that will instantly gain you more followers, ensuring regular posts on all social media platforms will guarantee you a strong social media presence and eventually build your personal brand.

By Mark A. Alvarez II · March 9, 2017

NEW YORK — Seeking to make a mark in the world capital of media, Bobcat Promotions (BPR), Texas State University’s student-run public relations firm, took its fourth annual trip to New York City this past January.

Twelve young practitioners were given the opportunity to broaden their PR perspectives by engaging in numerous professionals at top PR firms, museums and the United Nations.

BPR Executive Director Kristen Torrez, a senior, explained that visiting the Big Apple was both a personal milestone and a professional development opportunity

The Jan. 10-14 trip was Torrez’s first New York visit. She was surprised that it was not as overwhelming as she anticipated. “I thought visiting firms in New York would be intimidating, but actually it gave me more confidence once I got there,” Torrez said. “There was a lot going on, of course, but it was exhilarating. It made me want to jump in and tackle challenges alongside leading PR professionals.”

Bobcat Promotions at the Ogilvy & Mather Headquarters

For Vanessa Mora, public relations senior and a BPR account executive, this trip to New York, not her first, would provide an opportunity for professional growth.

“I have been to New York before,” Mora said. “Quite a few times in fact, but this was the first time I could experience New York with the capacity as a young PR professional. I have always had a firm grasp on the types of firms I would want to work for, but this was a world I never could have imagined. This trip completely raised my expectations and redefined the professional goals I had for myself.

In its fourth year, the New York trip, created and organized by adviser Chuck Kaufman, continued the tradition of attending a mixer of Texas State Mass Communication alumni at the host Park Central Hotel, where they were welcomed by 10 alumni, including Christopher Henry of Edelman and Maira Garcia of the New York Times.

The students got to dig deep into every subject from their professional development to simply surviving the hustle and high cost of living in New York City. The leap from the college life of San Marcos to the bright lights of New York is quite a transition.

Mondy Hobbs, a former BPR Account Executive, is now working for Weber Shandwick in New York. “She’s been living in NYC for 6 months now,” said Danielle Martinez, PR senior and Bobcat Promotions Website Manager. “So, seeing her there made me feel like making the big move is possible.”

Edelman’s Henry advised fellow Bobcats on ways that he believes helped him land a job in the big city. He even sought out a temporary phone with a New York area code so that employers would think he was from New York, he told Torrez. Henry is from New York but moved to Houston with his family at an early age. “He thought if he had a New York area code he would be more likely to get hired, and he did. He thinks that was a big part of it,” she said. Of course, Henry was a huge talent for BPR and as an Honors College student at Texas State.

Apart from getting to network with Texas State alumni, the Bobcat Promotions team got the opportunity to speak with the communications director of the 911 Memorial and Museum, attend a media briefing at the United Nations and visit some of the world’s largest and most prestigious public relations firms.

Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric meeting with Bobcat Promotions.

“I still can’t believe that we had the privilege to sit it on a media briefing led by Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the secretary general at the UN headquarters. We got to listen in on real life situations, a live teleconference with a UN official in Mosul. I wouldn’t have been able to read or know about such events until it was carried by international media the very next day. I mean, how crazy is that?” Martinez said. “Along with the briefing, we had the privilege of touring the magnificent and historic headquarters, from the general assembly hall to the security council. The establishment is so full of history, diversity and human rights. It was truly a remarkable experience. “

These Bobcats were met with an unforgettable opportunity that not only provided them with insight into the professional world beyond college, but also an experience that would inspire them to follow their own vision within an ever-changing world of mass communication.

“Visiting the 911 Memorial and Museum was by far one of the most somber experiences of my life,” Taylor Carfield, a senior and PRSSA social media coordinator, said. “We spoke with the communications director and my biggest take away was that in representing the museum and memorial, people’s lives and families were very hurt and torn apart by these events and the director explained that as a communicator we need to practice doing our job with the utmost sensitivity when dealing with such a tragedy.”

9/11 Memorial & Museum Vice President Michael Frazier.

These kinds of insights gave them a redefined sense of understanding of media and media relations and their place in it.

“After the trip, I felt more motivated to strive for the stars in all aspects of my life, including Bobcat Promotions,” Carfield said. “This trip really taught me to be confident and that if I want something, I can work hard enough to get it.”

After meetings, the students explored the full menu of the exciting opportunities and hustle of the city — the museums, restaurants, theater, Times Square, Central Park, the Brooklyn Bridge, the subway system and shopping. By all accounts, there were no shortages of lifetime memories.

“The trip never fails to achieve its mission of developing students professionally,” Kaufman said. “Students return to Texas fully charged to take on the world. They are more than simply motivated; they’re inspired. And that’s very gratifying not only for them but to me as a faculty member.”

By Ronald S. Gutierrez · Feb. 23, 2017

Drones, those pilotless remote-controlled aircrafts, have an array of uses including the filming of aerial footage, making it the perfect tool in our arsenal of content creation. While the purposes of use may be expanding, public opinion of drones continues to be narrow.

Historically, the use of drones was limited only to the government. In 1946, after World War II, the term “Drone” was introduced, replacing the term Unmanned aerial vehicles or UAVs. The term drone was chosen from the mindlessly driven existence of drone bees, emphasizing that the crafts themselves had no mind of their own. The motive behind the change in terminology was a public relations tactic meant to sever the negative connotations associated with this type of machinery. While the wordplay may be clever, this strategy wasn’t very proactive preparing for the modern age.

The use of drones has changed dramatically. Ranging from invisible tools used to surveil and kill to environmental research equipment allowing filming of otherwise impossible footage.

Currently, law enforcement and simple hobbyists make up the largest user base permitted to fly these air crafts. While use among law enforcement consists primarily of search and rescue missions, the waters become muddy for the rest of us. The Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (The FAA) has placed a number of restrictions on drone use for several reasons. The two largest arguments made against filming with drones are protecting privacy and ensuring public safety.

So what does all this mean to PR practitioners? It’s complicated. The concept is basically still too new and legislation is still up in the air. As of now, there’s a restriction in place for those specifically seeking to film content for commercial purposes. In order to bypass this, there is an exemption that gives individuals a certain license to use drones for organizations and potential commercial use. The FAA 333 Exemption has four major requirements:

An aircraft registered with the FAA for small unmanned aircrafts weighing at least 0.55 pounds.

A 333 grant of exemption, which restricts the proximity of using a drone around airports and in densely populated areas.

A Certificate of Waiver of Authorization, which requires the identification of airspace location for one’s specified needs.

A pilot with a FAA certificate, with specific exemptions under Section 333 of the United States Code, Title 49, which spells out details concerning the “pilot in command.”

The Obama Administration is attempting to pass a proposal that would simplify the rules for flying drones for commercial purposes. These revisions would include:

Doing away with the pilot requirement

Operators would have to take a knowledge test and be vetted by the FAA

They could only be flown during the “day”

Must maintain line of sight

Drone would have to be registered

Can’t fly within 500 feet of people

While these proposals may be promising, the public — and certainly the public relations industry — likely won’t see any actual action until late 2016 or early 2017. Until then, with the regular practices of respecting privacy, flying at appropriate times and in appropriate places we can turn the tables on censorship. Eventually, the public will recognize drones as basic tools to tell stories just like everything else currently being used. ds

This exciting technology may be great to look and fun to operate. In addition to raising a lot of interest, they are raising a lot of questions, legal and otherwise.

Drones are what all the buzz is about.

By Erica N. Gauthier · Feb. 23, 2017

With one out of seven people in the world using social media, it’s no surprise that businesses are using social media. Their customers use social media 24/7 to seek information or shop online. It’s dynamic, popular and free. This blog highlights three dominant platforms, Facebook, twitter, and Instagram, as part of their digital strategy. An underlying theme in this discussion is that social media alone, while powerful, doesn’t replace face-to-face meetings or phone conversations. Consumers may feel comfortable buying products online, but when building personal relationships, it’s important to “put the face with the voice.”

Facebook is the number one social media site out there, but is it right for your company? With 71 percent of Internet users on Facebook every day, it definitely gets high marks for reach and frequency. Facebook is also the most low maintenance site there is, with many different ways to post dynamic content.

Facebook is an appealing site for posting text, photographs, and video, and it offers e-commerce features like its brand new buy button. The platform also ramped up its video strategy to make it strong competition for YouTube.

Facebook ads are becoming more and more accessible to businesses. With Facebook, businesses can drive online sales, increase local sales, promote your app, find leads, and be social with your consumers.

Dana Fontein, author of “The Top Social Media Sites That Matter to Marketers,” writes that Facebook is probably a more powerful tool than it has ever been.

As dominant as Facebook is, experts view Twitter as the most effective site for handling customer service. Customers use Twitter with the intention of engaging quickly with customers. A total of 20 percent of the U.S. population uses Twitter on a daily basis; 50 percent use it to visit or shop at the local businesses that they follow, and 60 percent use it to buy something because they saw on the platform. Why?

“Twitter offers a peek into the minds of industry leaders, allowing you to see what they are reading, sharing, and thinking about any topic, at any given time,” Fontein writes.

Instagram, a platform that shares ideas visually, may top others when it comes individuals with creative services or products. With 400 million active users, 75 million daily, young adult, picture-taking consumers are easily attracted Instagram.

Instagram’s per-follower engagement rate for brands is 58 times higher than on Facebook and 120 times higher than on Twitter. Fontein says Instagram users are “two and a half times more likely to click on ads than on any other social media site.” There are many Instagram success stories including brands like Mercedes-Benz, Coca-Cola, and Fido.

Of course, there are many social media sites for marketing your business, but you should consider their unique features, their primary audiences and how well they translate to mobile devices. No doubt you will want multiple platforms to reach the widest audience.

Brittney Helmrich, Business News Daily staff writer who wrote “Social Media for Business: 2016 Marketers Guide,” says that it is important that businesses choose and nurture the social platforms that work best for your business so that you don’t spread yourself too thin. “There is no use in having a site that you barely post on while not keeping it updated,” Helmrich states. “It doesn’t speak well for your brand” if content developers are not engaged in their own brand-generating platforms or websites.

Facebook, Twitter and Instagram are a good start for your business. Then, depending on your product or service, you can reach your consumers on multiple sites, perhaps through a blog, through boards on Pinterest or videos on YouTube or Vimeo. And while the digital footprint may deliver communication at supersonic speeds at any time, but don’t forget face-to-face business meetings with clients.